Leashing a tornado and living to blog about it

A Bashful Thanks

I am shy. Overwhelmingly shy at times. It took me years before I got up the courage to post my first comment on a stranger’s blog. Item #60 on my life list is to walk up to someone I don’t know and introduce myself. I still don’t feel ready to take that plunge.

This shyness has stood in my way a lot. As it does. Most of the friends I have I met either at school or at work. Forced social situations where I never had to be the first one to initiate interaction. For the most part, it’s worked. There are times, though, where it would be nice to not be so frightened of new people. For instance, back when I took dance classes, I spent most of the time by myself, doing my thing because I couldn’t get up the nerve to even say “hello” to anyone. It is easier to remain a social outcast than to try to connect.

The reason I’m bringing all of this up is kind of sappy. Most of my life I have spent outside larger communities. Which is fine, actually, I’m not complaining. It prevents me from having to deal with my anxiety.

When I started this blog back in March I had no intention of connecting with others. It was just going to be something to do, a place to prattle on about my dog so I didn’t have to annoy my friends with all my dorky stories. For some reason I can’t explain, that changed. I started seeking out other people who were passionate about the same things. What I found shocks me.

The pet blogging community seems to be full of warm, considerate, and special people. People who take time out of their day to welcome and encourage others who don’t know if they will fit in. For someone who has never felt like she belongs, this is huge.

I just wanted to say thank you. To all of you. To those reading this now. You, in that desk chair. Thank you. If we ever were to meet in the street, I’d probably be too intimidated to say anything, but I’d like you to know that your acceptance of me on the Internets has meant something. I now feel one step closer to achieving that life list goal. Thanks for being so nice.

Animal lovers rock.

Now that I’ve humiliated myself, here is a video of my dog playing with a pop bottle.

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43 thoughts on “A Bashful Thanks”

I am actually really shy too. It’s strange, because even as anonymous as blogging and the internet is supposed to be, I still have a hard time putting myself “out there” sometimes. The community of bloggers I’ve found though has been so great. I think blogging about pets is especially great because it is so personal. It’s something we all love and can stand behind. Plus, pets are sooooooooo cute and funny. The posts always make me smile 🙂

And am I the only one that thinks soda companies are missing out on a great marketing opportunity? They really need to let people know those bottles are fun dog toys 🙂

Such a great post. I actually started my blog for all the same reasons, and I’m completely blown away by the amazing animal-loving community connected through all of our blogs. It’s so easy to connect through a mutual love of dogs!

believe it or not – I understand the shy part – the position I am in I need to be out in the public – but I still get that OMG I am going to throw up in front of these people feeling. I love this blog – and some of the other links you have here. Its been almost a year since we lost Nick – and this blog gives me the warm fuzzies when I see the interaction with these animal lovers and their companions. It really helps in dealing with the loss of one of my best friends as I know that I am not the only one who doesn’t think of dogs as a pet – but as as a short furry buddy.

I think that inherently dog people tend to be much more understanding than people who do not like dogs (or other animals). At least that’s what I’ve found, and I agree, that it’s so much easier to connect over animals than other random things, I’ve noticed this especially as I get older and don’t have required activities with other people, I kind of turned into a hermit, save for my online activities. 😛 But at least I have a snuggle buddy for my hermitry.

I tend to be on the shyer side myself, and since a young age have always relied a great deal upon my animal companions. However, the animal loving community is full of friends I’ve made over the years and more I’m sure I’ve yet to meet. Animal people are the best people, for sure.

I can also relate to being shy. I have found that people tend to speak to you when you are out walking your dog. I have lost countof the number of times someone has stopped me to ask about my Greyhound Song. Of course other dog walkers are usually friendly, but I’m talking about non doggie people.

Don’t worry about saying hello to me if we ever met, as I’d say it first and then you’d have a job to get a word in:)

What a beautiful post. It most definitely isn’t easy just putting yourself out there. Online is where I tend to be somewhat of a private person. (I’m getting better 🙂 I agree with so many of the other replies to this post – true dog people are a very special brand, indeed. It is very obvious when you come across a TRUE dog person. We attend a very huge pug gala each year and as a vendor, I am supposed to be selling my products, instead by the end of the event, I lose my voice and have to be careful the following day because of all the talking, laughing, and enjoying the company of so many other pug lovers. Thank you for stopping by my blog and for linking to my site as well. I truly appreciate your kindness. Have a wonderful day.
Joan & Jane Austen Eyre
P.S. Little Jane loves to play with soda bottles too! We enjoy watching her because being so little she can’t really get a hold of it and her determination is really funny. And when she finally gets it she literally struts away ever so proudly.

Eden – I love the layout and mateashd, but I’m not a fan of that particular shade of pink. (Ironic, I know, my own blog is pink.) How attached are you to the pink? Would you consider other colours? How about green – it is the colour of money, they say. 😉

I know exactly how you feel! And the interwebs have not only helped me connect with people I otherwise wouldn’t have met, its people that live halfway around the world. Awesome.

And don’t you find that just having your dog with you makes people feel like they can come up and talk to you? It’s a funny social non-norm that I find everywhere I go. And (usually) it results in great conversations.

I empathize with you completely. I tend to keep to myself and feel very overwhelmed in large groups, especially if they’re strangers I’m “supposed” to interact with. I actually don’t even have any friends from school or past jobs – I’m not very good at going out of my way to “keep in touch.”

In response to your comment on my last post – I’m not sure if you saw my response – and I want to make sure you did! – I have a friend who drove down from Nova Scotia and is visiting me. If you live anywhere near his way back up North, I might be able to convince him to drop Tigress off with you, if you’re serious about potentially adopting her. Please let me know!

Since you comment all the time – and I read your blog at work (where I cannot comment because I’m reading via my phone) I thought I should be decent enough to say HEY, I READ/LOVE YOUR BLOG!

…And also, I used to be that shy, too. And then my brother decided I wasn’t allowed to be anymore, and … Well, now I’m a little less shy. But only a little.

I love the video. Sprite Bottle Fetch! What is it with dogs and plastic bottles? Mine would learn backflips just to be allowed to chomp on one! Yeesh.

I adore pet-bloggers. The community they’ve (and we’ve) created is warm and welcoming, and we look out for one another, no matter how far we’re separated by land mass. Thank goodness for the internet. LoL.

Ah! Now I’ve figured something out! I never know when you update, because every time I click your “subscribe to RSS feed” button, it won’t let meeeeee! Do you know how to fix this? I think it’s globally unfair that I can’t catch your updates!

Animal people rock! 🙂 There is no real common denominator for wonderful people other than…. 😉 they care about others, they try not to do things that make others sad, they work to help others have a happier day (whether that’s a dog, cat, guinea pig or human 😉 And it doesn’t matter if they’re shy, gregarious, introverted, extroverted, funny, serious, more educated, less educated, have money, don’t have money, have non socially accepted habits, have socially accepted habits, etc. They’re just darn good folks 🙂 Celebrate your wonderful self and thank you for letting us enjoy you too 🙂

I think that dog communities generally are very warm and welcoming people! The pet blogging community really comes together and rallies around those who need them. I’ve seen it happen again and again! I’m actually a pretty shy person in real life myself. I have definitely found more confidence in writing the blog. Congratulations to you in taking that first step out of your shell!

What a great post! It’s so funny because when I tell E about something going on in the blogs, it’s almost like my real-life friends. And the funny thing is I feel like I know more about these bloggers and their dogs than any dog I see on a daily basis. I am quite shy too, but I think having dogs gives you a conversation piece to meet and start talking to people. Especially when Miss M throws herself at any human in sight.

Thanks for sharing. That took guts. I am more than shy, I’m an anxious mess around people, and so my life is rather recluse. I don’t have any friends or family with pets and was very shy about blogging. Especially about my dealing with Brut’s aggression. I was terrified of being judged. And yet I found the opposite. Dog lovers love other dog lovers. I too was blown away by this awesome community and has helped me break many barriers, (at least online, LOL) It has been wonderful experience and I”m so glad I ventured out.

Kristine, thanks so much for coming over to my blog and commenting. You are so right – it is a wonderful way to find like minds.
Bleary this morning because the dog kept me up all night. If you ever find those lassie pills…

I just found your blog so this is the first post I’ve read. And you’re right. It’s a fun community. I really think that letting dogs into our hearts opens us up to all kinds of wonderful connections–with people, with animals, with nature, with life.

After seeing the video, I have to tell you a horrible soda bottle story. A volunteer at the local SPCA gives her dog soda bottles to play with.

One day she came home from work and the floor was sticky! And the counter was sticky! And the dog was sticky!

Apparently the dog saw the full soda bottle on the counter and grabbed it to play with. After a few minutes, he punctured the shaken bottle which exploded all over the kitchen!

I love soda bottle toys too. But be aware that no bottle will ever be safe in your house again.

Thanks for adding me to your blog roll. I’m looking forward to reading more or your stuff too. And good luck on NaBloPoMo!

I stopped to thank you for stoppin’ to visit, but when I read your post I had to tell Momma that she was right!
She always said she bet a lot of bloggers, unless they are tryin’ to promote their business, are shy like she is. She’s so shy she won’t blog, so I blog. She’s even shy around relatives and people she knows.
Just wanted you to know, like the other comments did, you’re not alone in the shy category!
Good thing she has me, don’t y’all think?
Hawk aka BrownDog

What a great blog!! I have to do all the blogging in this family–my Mom says she just couldn’t do it without me. I don’t know if she’s shy or what, but, like you, we’ve met an incredible group of friends since we started!

Kristine, what a beautiful and touching post…. I used to be very, very quiet and shy, so, I know how you feel. It was hard, but I worked my way through it… I think waitressing through college really helped me. And now, no one believes how shy I used to be….But I digress. It is very scary to step outside your comfort zone… I am so glad that you have been able to reach out and connect through your blog. I am so thankful you reached out and commented on my blog. If you didn’t, I don’t know if we would have ever “met”…. I love reading your comments, and I love reading your posts. I am so glad through the blogging world, we got to meet!!!!

I guarantee you if I saw you with your dog we’d talk. Infact most people here would stop to ask a question at petsmart lol. Dog people sniff out dog people! The other thing is blogs allow us to may say what we are sometimes to shy to say in person. Well except me, I am as opinionate in person as I am in writing 😉 Glad we “met”

Not an awkward post at all, very open and touching. I was very pleased when you started commenting on Ryker’s Blog. It is a work of love for me. That little guy has me totally wrapped around his paw. My SO says he is like my first born.
I have to say that I am more shy on line than off… weird huh? Guess it is because I do not consider my self a very good writer, I’m also very visual.
You will laugh but playing my first computer online game when my character first died I was soooo upset, I obsessed on it for days. I still remember it vividly, I was killed by a bunny rabbit! This online stuff takes a little getting used to.
Anyhow, I very much enjoy your comments and your blog as well, so I hope you have fun with it and thanks for sharing.
~Sandy & Ryker